State the common features of plosive, fricative, nasal consonants in the English language
1. The common features of plosive consonants:
In the articulation of all plosives, the soft palate is raised so the air-passage can not go through either the nose or the mouth. The organs of speech touch each other; the air-stream is completely obstructed in the mouth for a short time. When the organs of speech separate suddenly, the complete obstructed air-passage is released, the air-passage rushes out the narrowing with plosion [ p t d k g ]
2. The common features of fricative consonants:
In the articulation of all fricatives, the soft palate is raised so that no air-stream can go through the nose and it is forced to go through the mouth. The organs of speech are closed to each other and form a narrowing and when the air –passage is pushed through this narrowing, friction is made [ f v s z θ ð ʃ ʒ h ] (9 )
3. The common features of nasals:
In the articulation of all nasals, the vocal cords are approached together, held loosely and vibrate. The air-stream does not pass through the mouth, it is prevented by a complete closure in the mouth at some points. When the soft palate is lowered the air-stream goes through the nose without an audible friction./.